Method for selecting and controlling second work process during first work process in multitasking mobile terminal

ABSTRACT

Provided is a method for controlling a plurality of work processes in a multitasking mobile terminal, and more particularly, a method for selecting a second work process during a first work process and controlling a predetermined function of the selected second work process. In the controlling method, icons corresponding to the respective work processes are displayed in response to a user command, and a desired work process is selected through the displayed icons. A predetermined function of the selected work process is controlled through a pop-up menu activated in response to the user command.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2005-73877 filed on Aug. 11, 2005 and Korean Patent Application No.10-2005-102198 filed on Oct. 28, 2005 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in theirentirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a plurality ofwork processes in a multitasking mobile terminal, and more particularly,to a method for selecting a second work process during a first workprocess and controlling a predetermined function of the selected secondwork process.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the recent advance of mobile communication technology, variouskinds of mobile terminals such as hand-held phones and personal digitalassistants (PDAs) are commercially available. The mobile terminals havea wireless communication function, a camera function, a multimedia playfunction, an Internet connection function, and the like. Also, as theperformance of microprocessors built in the mobile terminals isimproved, a plurality of work processes can be performed concurrently.For example, an MP3 music file can be played during a phone call, or ashort message service (SMS) message can be sent while an MP3 music fileis played.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a conventional multitaskingmobile terminal that concurrently performs a plurality of workprocesses. A mobile chipset 1 controls an overall operation of themobile terminal according to user commands. The mobile chipset 1transmits a control signal through a data bus 3 to a camera module 5, anMP3 module 7, and an Internet module 9 according to the user commands.Work processes of the camera module 5, the MP3 module 7, and theInternet module 9 are concurrently performed according to the controlsignal.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional method for selecting asecond work process during a first work process in a multitasking mobileterminal that concurrently performs a plurality of work processes. Instep S10, while a first work process is performed, a user command for asecond work process is inputted. In step S12, a menu window forselecting a new work process is displayed on a display of the mobileterminal in response to the user command. In step S14, the user selectsa desired new work process through the displayed menu window. In stepsS16 and S17, when the user wants to change the selected process intoanother new process, the selected work process is terminated. In stepS18, a user command for selecting the another new work process isinputted. In step S19, the another new work process is selected throughthe displayed menu window in response to the user command.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart chart illustrating a conventional method forcontrolling a predetermined function of a second work process during afirst work process in a multitasking mobile terminal that concurrentlyperforms a plurality of work processes.

In step S20, assuming that the first work process is an MP3 play processand the second work process is an SMS message creation process, a firstcommand of user for the SMS message creation process is inputted whilean MP3 music file is played. In step S21, a screen for the SMS messagecreation process is displayed in response to the first command of user,and the SMS message creation process is performed while the MP3 musicfile is played. In step S23, it is determined whether or not a secondcommand of user for controlling a function of the MP3 play process isinputted while an SMS message is created. In steps S25 and S27, when thesecond command of user is inputted, the SMS message that is beingcreated is stored in the memory and the SMS message creation process isterminated. In step S29, after the termination of SMS message creationprocess, the function of the MP3 play process is controlled. When theSMS message creation process is terminated, a screen for the MP3 playprocess is again displayed, and a third command of user for controllingthe function of the MP3 play process is inputted. A control signalcorresponding to the third command of user is generated and the functionof the MP3 play process is controlled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the conventional method for selecting the work process, whenselecting a wok process that is concurrently performed, the user has toselect a new work process through a displayed menu window. Also, inorder to terminate a predetermined work process among a plurality ofwork processes that are concurrently performed and select a new workprocess, the user has to select the new work process through the menuwindow.

Also, in the conventional method for controlling a function of the workprocess, the user has to terminate an SMS message creation process so asto control a function of an MP3 play process (e.g., volume control, listselection of MP3 music files) while creating an SMS message. In casewhere the SMS message creation process is terminated, the SMS messagethat is being created is deleted or stored in a predetermined memoryspace such as a temporary mailbox. Consequently, the conventional methodis inconvenient in that the user has to again select the SMS messagecreation process and create the SMS message or reload the SMS messagestored in the temporary mailbox.

The present invention provides a method for selecting a work process ofa multitasking mobile terminal through an icon corresponding to the workprocess.

The present invention also provides a method for controlling a functionof a work process through an activated pop-up menu in a multitaskingmobile terminal that concurrently performs a plurality of workprocesses.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod for selecting a second work process during a first work processin a multitasking mobile terminal that concurrently performs the firstwork process and the second work process. The selecting method includes:inputting a user command for selecting the second work process; anddisplaying an icon corresponding to the second work process in responseto the user command, and selecting the second work process based on thedisplayed icon.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for controlling a predetermined function of a second workprocess during a first work process in a multitasking mobile terminalthat concurrently performs the first work process and the second workprocess. The controlling method includes: inputting a first command ofuser for selecting a predetermined function of the second work process;activating a pop-up menu for controlling the predetermined function ofthe second work process in response to the first command of user; andcontrolling the predetermined function of the second work processthrough the activated pop-up menu.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodimentsthereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a conventional multitaskingmobile terminal that concurrently performs a plurality of workprocesses;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional method for selecting asecond work process during a first work process in a multitasking mobileterminal that concurrently performs a plurality of work processes;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional method for controllinga function of a second work process during a first work process in amultitasking mobile terminal that concurrently performs a plurality ofwork processes;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for selecting a second workprocess in a multitasking mobile terminal that concurrently performs afirst work process and the second work process;

FIGS. 5A to 5D illustrate the displayed icons of the work processesaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an apparatus for selecting awork process of a multitasking mobile terminal that concurrentlyperforms a first work process and a second work process according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a functionof an MP3 play process during the creation of an SMS message in amultitasking mobile terminal that concurrently performs the MP3 playprocess and the SMS message creation process;

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate the displayed pop-up menus according to anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of an apparatus for controlling afunction of the MP3 play process in the multitasking mobile terminalthat concurrently performs the MP3 play process and the SMS messagecreation process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a method for selecting a second work process during a firstwork process and controlling a function of the selected second workprocess according to the present invention will be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for selecting a second workprocess in a multitasking mobile terminal that concurrently performs afirst work process and the second work process according to anembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, in step S30, auser command for selecting the second work process is inputted. In stepS32, while the first work is processed through the first work process ofthe mobile terminal, a first command of user for multitasking of thesecond work process together with the first work is inputted. Iconscorresponding to the work processes are displayed in response to thefirst user command. The icons are previously designated with respect toall work processes of the mobile terminal. Every when the first commandof user is inputted, the icons are displayed in turn.

In step S34, when an icon corresponding to the second work process theuser wants to select is displayed, a second command of user forselecting the displayed icon is inputted. In step S36, the first work ofthe first work process and the second work of the second work processare concurrently processed in response to the second command of user.For example, when the user intends to send an SMS message while an MP3music file is played, an MP3 play process and an SMS message sendprocess are divided in quantum units and alternately processed atregular time intervals.

In step S38, an icon corresponding to the first work process ispreferably displayed together with an activated screen image of thesecond work process. The user can know from the displayed icon that thefirst work process is concurrently performed in the second work process.

FIGS. 5A to 5D illustrate the displayed icons of the work processesaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5A, an icon indicating an MP3 play process isdisplayed in a first portion of a display 40, while an MP3 music file isplayed.

Referring to FIG. 5B, when a first command of user for sending an SMSmessage is inputted while an MP3 music file is played, an iconindicating an SMS message creation process is displayed in a firstportion of a display 41.

Referring to FIG. 5C, when a second command of user for selecting adisplayed SMS icon is inputted, an SMS message creation process isactivated, and an MP3 play process and the SMS message creation processare performed concurrently. Preferably, an icon corresponding to the MP3play process that is performed concurrently is displayed in a firstportion of a display 42 together with a screen of the SMS messagecreation process.

Referring to FIG. 5D, when a first command of user for selecting a newwork process of a camera mode is inputted, an icon corresponding to acamera mode work process is displayed in a first portion of a display 43in response to the first user command. By selecting the displayed cameramode icon, the work process for sending an SMS message is changed to thecamera mode work process.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an apparatus for selecting thework process of the multitasking mobile terminal that concurrentlyperforms the first work process and the second work process. Referringto FIG. 6, the apparatus according to the present invention includes auser interface 50, a second work process selecting unit 60, amultiprocessing unit 70, a display 80, a data bus 90, and a plurality ofapplication units 92, 94 and 96. The plurality of application units 92,94 and 96 are controlled via the data bus 90 by the multiprocessing unit70.

A user commands for changing the work process of the mobile terminal isinputted through the user interface 50. The user interface 50 may be avoice recognition unit for recognizing user's voice, or a motionrecognition unit for recognizing a motion of the mobile terminal.

A first command of user for selecting the second work process that isconcurrently performed together with the first work process of themobile terminal is inputted through the user interface 50 to the secondwork process selecting unit 60. The second work process selecting unit60 includes an icon activating unit 62 and a selecting unit 64. Everywhen the first command of user is inputted, the icon activating unit 62sequentially displays icons corresponding to the respective workprocesses of the mobile terminal through the display 80. A secondcommand of user is inputted through the user interface 50 to theselecting unit 64 so as to select the second work process concurrentlyperformed together with the first work process among the sequentiallydisplayed icons. The selecting unit 64 provides the work processcorresponding to the selected icon to the multiprocessing unit 70 inresponse to the second user command.

The multiprocessing unit 70 includes a temporary queue 72 and aprocessing unit 74. The temporary queue 72 stores the first work processand the second work process, which are provided from the selecting unit64 and performed concurrently. The processing unit 74 generates acontrol signal for alternately performing the first work process and thesecond work process, which are stored in the temporary queue 72, atregular time intervals. The processing unit 74 is connected through thedata bus 90 to the MP3 module 92, the camera module 94, and the Internetmodule 96. The MP3 module 92, the camera module 94, and the Internetmodule 96 perform a work process of an MP3 play mode, a work process ofa camera mode, and a work process of an Internet connection mode inresponse to the control signal outputted from the processing unit 74,respectively. Other applications can be further added to the mobileterminal according to the fields to which the present invention isapplied. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that theseembodiments will fall within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a functionof the MP3 play process, while the SMS message is created, according toan embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, in step S40, a first command of user is inputted soas to control the function of the MP3 play process while the SMS messageis created. In step S42, a pop-up menu for controlling the function ofthe MP3 play process is activated in the display of the mobile terminalin response to the first command of user.

In step S44, when the pop-up menu is activated, a second command of useris inputted for controlling the function of the MP3 play process, andthe function of the MP3 play process is controlled in response to thesecond command of user. When the pop-up menu is activated, a pop-upprocess for controlling the function of the MP3 play process is assignedto a temporary queue by using the activated pop-up menu, and the pop-upprocess is concurrently performed together with the creation of the SMSmessage.

That is, the pop-up process and the SMS message creation process aredivided in quantum units, and the pop-up process and the SMS messagesend process are alternately performed at regular time intervals. Whenthe second command of user is inputted, the pop-up process generates thecontrol signal corresponding to the second command of user and providesthe generated control signal to the MP3 play process. The MP3 playprocess controls the function of the MP3 play process in response to thecontrol signal.

In step S46, it is determined whether or not a third command of user forreturning to the SMS message creation process is inputted. In step S48,when the third command of user is inputted after the control of thefunction of the MP3 play process is completed, the activated pop-up menuis deactivated. Even though the pop-up menu is deleted from thetemporary queue and the pop-up process is terminated, the MP3 playprocess and the SMS message creation process continue to be performedand the user can keep on creating the SMS message while listening to theMP3 music.

Preferably, the first to third commands of user may be inputted througha predetermined key arranged at a keypad of the mobile terminal, auser's voice, a motion of the mobile terminal, and the like.

Preferably, the first and third commands of user may be inputted throughthe identical key of the mobile terminal.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate the displayed pop-up menus according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A illustrates a pop-up menu displayed when the MP3 play processand the SMS message creation process are concurrently performed.Preferably, an icon 44 indicating the MP3 play process concurrentlyperformed together with the SMS message creation process is alsodisplayed in a portion of a display.

FIG. 8B illustrates a pop-up menu displayed in response to the firstcommand of user. The pop-up menu 46 has a predetermined format, andimage information for the pop-up menu 46 displayed is stored in thememory of the mobile terminal. Preferably, in response to the firstcommand of user, the pop-up menu 46 may be displayed brightly andclearly, while the screen corresponding to the SMS message process maybe displayed darkly and unclearly.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of an apparatus for controlling thefunction of the MP3 play process in the multitasking mobile terminalthat concurrently performs the MP3 play process and the SMS messagecreation process according to an embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 9, the apparatus according to the present inventionincludes a user interface 100, a pop-up menu activating unit 110, afunction controlling unit 120, a temporary queue 130, a display 140, adata bus 150, a plurality of application modules 161, 163 and 165, and amemory 170.

A first command of user is inputted through the user interface 100. Thepop-up menu activating unit 110 acquires image information of a pop-upmenu stored in the memory 170 in a predetermined format through the databus 150, and activates the pop-up menu on the display 140. Meanwhile,the temporary queue 130 stores a pop-up process.

A second command of user for controlling the function of the MP3 playprocess is inputted through the user interface 100, and the functioncontrolling unit 120 generates a first control signal for controllingthe pop-up menu in response to the second command of user. The MP3 playprocess, the SMS message creation process, and the pop-up process, whichare stored in the temporary queue 130, are alternately performed atregular time intervals. The generated first control signal istransferred through the data bus 150 to the MP3 module, and the functionof the MP3 play process is controlled.

A third command of user for terminating the pop-up process is inputtedthrough the user interface 100. The function controlling unit 120generates a second control signal for deactivating the pop-up menu inresponse to the third command of user. The generated second controlsignal is transferred through the data bus 150 to the temporary queue130. The temporary queue 130 deletes the pop-up process in response tothe second control signal, thus terminating the pop-up process.

The embodiments of the present invention can be written as computerprograms and can be implemented in general-use digital computers thatexecute the programs using a computer readable recording medium.Examples of the computer readable recording medium include magneticstorage media (e.g., ROM, floppy disks, hard disks), optical recordingmedia (e.g., CD-ROMs, or DVDs), and storage media such as carrier waves(e.g., transmission through the Internet).

The above-mentioned method for selecting the second work processaccording to the present invention can simply select the second workprocess by selecting the icons sequentially displayed while the firstwork process is performed.

Also, the above-described method for controlling the function of thesecond work process according to the present invention can simplycontrol the function of the MP3 play process during the creation of theSMS message by controlling the function of the MP3 play process throughthe pop-up menu in the multitasking mobile terminal that concurrentlyperforms the MP3 play process and the SMS message creation process.

Further, the above-described method for controlling the function of thesecond work process according to the present invention can continuouslycreate the SMS message after controlling the function of the MP3 playprocess by controlling the function of the MP3 play process through thepop-up menu in the multitasking mobile terminal that concurrently theMP3 play process and the SMS message creation process.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling a predetermined functionof a second work process during a first work process in a multitaskingmobile terminal that performs the first work process and the second workprocess, the method comprising: while performing the first work process,displaying an icon corresponding to the first work process, thedisplayed icon being displayed together with a screen of the first workprocess in a display, wherein the icon corresponding to the first workprocess is displayed in a designated portion of the display, thedisplayed icon corresponding to the first work process not including anicon corresponding to the second work process; in response to a firstcommand for sequentially displaying icons, performing sequential displayof icons such that the icon corresponding to the second work process isdisplayed, wherein the icon corresponding to the second work process isdisplayed in the designated portion of the display replacing the iconcorresponding to the first work process, and, in the designated portionof the display, the icon corresponding to the second work process isconfigured to be replaced with an icon corresponding to a third workprocess in response to another first command; in response to a secondcommand for selecting the icon corresponding to the second work processamong the sequentially displayed icons, replacing the screen of thefirst work process with a screen of the second work process, wherein anicon to be displayed in the designated portion is replaced with an iconthat is different from the icon corresponding to the second work processin response to the second command; controlling the multitasking of thesecond work process and the first work process in response to the secondcommand; in response to a third command for activating a pop-up forcontrolling a predetermined function of the first work process,activating the pop-up for controlling the predetermined function of thefirst work process; and in response to a fourth command for controllingthe predetermined function of the first work process through theactivated pop-up, controlling the predetermined function of the firstwork process through the activated pop-up.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the controlling the predetermined function of the first workprocess comprises: generating a control signal for controlling thepredetermined function of the first work process in response to thefourth command; and controlling the predetermined function of the firstwork process in response to the generated control signal.
 3. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: in response to a fifth command fordeactivating the activated pop-up.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein thethird command and the fifth command are inputted through an identicalkey of the mobile terminal.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the secondwork process is an MP3 play process.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinan item of the first work process is displayed brighter than the screenof the first work process.
 7. The method of claim 3, wherein the thirdcommand and the fifth command are inputted through at least one of apredetermined key, a user's voice, and a motion of the mobile terminal.8. The method of claim 1, wherein, in response to a repetition of thefirst command, performing sequential display of icons such that adisplayed icon disappears from a screen of the mobile terminal and anicon appears on the screen of the mobile terminal.
 9. A method forselecting a second work process during a first work process in amultitasking mobile terminal that performs the first work process andthe second work process in a multitasking environment, the methodcomprising: while performing the first work process, displaying an iconcorresponding to the first work process, the displayed icon beingdisplayed together with a screen of the first work process in a display,wherein the icon corresponding to the first work process is displayed ina designated portion of the display, the displayed icon corresponding tothe first work process not including an icon corresponding to the secondwork process; in response to a first command for sequentially displayingicons, performing sequential display of icons such that the iconcorresponding to the second work process is displayed, wherein the iconcorresponding to the second work process is displayed in the designatedportion of the display replacing the icon corresponding to the firstwork process, and, in the designated portion of the display, the iconcorresponding to the second work process is configured to be replacedwith an icon corresponding to a third work process in response toanother first command; in response to a second command for selecting theicon corresponding to the second work process among the sequentiallydisplayed icons, replacing the screen of the first work process with ascreen of the second work process, wherein an icon to be displayed inthe designated portion is replaced with an icon that is different fromthe icon corresponding to the second work process in response to thesecond command; and controlling the multitasking of the second workprocess and the first work process in response to the second command,wherein an item of the second work process is displayed relativelybrighter or clearer than an item of a work process other than the secondwork process.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein, in response to arepetition of the first command, performing sequential display of iconssuch that a displayed icon disappears from a screen of the mobileterminal and an icon appears on the screen of the mobile terminal. 11.The method of claim 9, wherein the first command and the second commandare inputted through at least one of a predetermined key, a user'svoice, and a motion of the mobile terminal.
 12. The method of claim 9,wherein the screen of the first work process is displayed together withsequentially displayed icons corresponding to respective work processesof the mobile terminal.